10 - Vital Signs

Question 1

Plumb line

Answer 1

an imaginary straight line from the top of the head to the floor. Perfect posture means our ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles stack up along this line.

Question 2

Hyperthermia

Answer 2

Or fever is caused I pyrogens secreted by toxic bacteria during infections or as a result of tissue breakdown such as that after myocardial infraction, trauma, surgery or malignancy.

Question 3

Hypothermia

Answer 3

Is usually caused by accidental, prolonged exposure to cold period it also may be purposefully induced to lower the body’s requirements during heart or peripheral vascular surgery.

Question 4

Temperature Range

Answer 4

36-38ºC

oral/tempanic/temporal = 37
rectal = 27.5
axillary 36.5

Question 5

Rectal temperature

Answer 5

only when the other routes are not practical for example in comatose for confused patients, those in shock, or those who cannot close the mouth because of breathing or oxygen tubes.

Question 6

Stroke volume

Answer 6

with every beat the heart pumps an amount of blood into the aorta. About 70 milliliters in adults

Question 7

tympanic membrane thermometer

Answer 7

senses infrared emissions of the tympanic membrane. Shares the same vascular supply that profuse is the hypothalamus the internal carotid artery making it an accurate measurement of core temperature

Question 8

temporal artery thermometer

Answer 8

used by sliding the probe across the forehead and behind the ear auxiliary temperature is safe and accurate for infants and young children

Question 9

brachycardia

Answer 9

a resting heart rate less than 50 beats per minute

Question 10

tachycardia

Answer 10

a more rapid heart rate over 95 beats per minute or over 100 beats per minute

Question 11

sinus arrhythmia

Answer 11

the heart rate varies with the respiratory cycle speeding up at the peak of inspiration and slowing to normal with expiration

Question 12

systolic pressure

Answer 12

the maximum pressure felt on the artery during left ventricular contraction or systol

Question 13

diastolic pressure

Answer 13

pressure the elastic recall, or resting, pressure that the blood exerts constantly between each contraction

Question 14

mean arterial pressure

Answer 14

the pressure forcing blood into the tissues, averaged over the cardiac cycle

Question 15

pulse pressure

Answer 15

the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures and reflects the stroke volume

Question 16

blood pressure

Answer 16

the force of the blood pushing against the side of the vessel wall

Question 17

cardiac output

Answer 17

if the heart pumps more blood into the vessels the pressure on the vessel wall increases

Question 18

viscosity

Answer 18

the thickness of blood determined by its formed elements the blood cells. Thicker blood increases pressure

Question 19

peripheral vascular resistance

Answer 19

opposition to blood through flow through the arteries. When blood vessels become smaller and constricted greater pressure is needed to push blood through

Question 20

osculatory gap

Answer 20

a period when Korotokoff’s sounds disappear during auscultation

Question 21

hypotension

Answer 21

an abnormally low blood pressure

Question 22

hypertension

Answer 22

an abnormally high blood pressure

Question 23

orthostatic hypertension

Answer 23

drop in systolic pressure of more than 20 millimeters of mercury or an orthostatic pulse increase of 20 beats per minute occurs with a quick change to standing position.

Result from abrupt peripheral vasodilation without a compensatory increase in cardiac output

Question 24

Sphygmomanometer

Answer 24

cuff for blood pressure measurement

Question 25

Pulse oximeter

Answer 25

Sensor compares ratio of light emitted to light absorbed by hemoglobin and converts into a percentage of SpO2

Question 26

Average O2 Levels

Answer 26

Over 95%

Question 27

Average pulse

Answer 27

60-100 beats per min

Question 28

Average Respirations

Answer 28

10-20 breaths per min

Question 29

Average Blood Pressure: Systolic

Answer 29

120-139mmHG

Question 30

Average Blood Pressure: Diastolic

Answer 30

80-89mmHG